Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The problems in Dublin are not unique and are present in many other cities as well. It is interesting that France and Germany are introducing measures to target rents in large cities and high-demand areas such as Berlin, Munich and Paris.

In Germany, landlords in the three largest cities will be unable to charge more than 10% of the average rent for comparable housing in the area. In addition, rents must rise by no more than 15% in three years with no increase permitted in the first year. In France, no new rental contracts in high-demand areas will be allowed to charge more than 20% per square metre above the neighbourhood's median rent.

There is little doubt that if we had more controls here, we would not run into quite as many of the problems we did even in the housing boom. A lack of control is a big problem. If one just lets the markets dictate and work to their idea of supply and demand, the system inevitably runs into roadblocks after a while.

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